10 Memorable Movie Suicides

Now, this isn’t an article about actors like Owen WilsonJonathan Brandis who actually did kill themselves; rather, it’s a rundown of ten memorable suicides in modern cinema. And unlike James Vance, these guys got it right. Some characters off themselves to avoid humiliation, while others do it for a greater good. Here are ten (or eleven?) characters who decided that living wasn’t an option:

1. Private Gomer Pyle – Full Metal Jacket

Perhaps the most memorable of any movie suicide is seen in Full Metal Jacket. After weeks of abuse from his drill seargant and fellow soldiers, a broken-down Private Pyle blows his brains out with his rifle while sitting on the toilet. Pyle’s death is a truly distubring scene.

2. The Predator – Predator

The only man remaining from his team, Dutch is left to fight The Predator alone. The Predator beats the hell out of him, But Dutch manages to crawl to a trap he rigged and set it off, causing a humongous log to drop on the Predator’s head. In an awesome move that is saturated with spite, the Predator activates his self-destruct device while laughing manically (or, playing back a recording of Billy’s laugh?). Dutch somehow manages to not only survive but to have no serious injuries after the nuclear blast. Also: am I alone in thinking that the movie is unrealistic only in the sense that there’s no way a group of hardass soldiers like Dutch’s team would run around with a cute female prisoner and NOT gang rape her? It’s tough for me to take the movie seriously because of that flaw. An alien coming to Earth to hunt humans for sport, though? Sure, I’ll bite.

3. Warden Samuel Norton – The Shawshank Redemption

The crooked Warden Samuel Norton exploited his prisoners for profit and money laundered, so you don’t feel too bad when he offs himself. After learning that Andy had sent evidence of the Warden’s crimes to the newspapers, Warden Norton decides it’s better to be dead. He makes a mess of his death, opting for the ol’ gun-under-the-chin method.

4. Ellen Ripley – Alien 3

Ellen Ripley is pretty much the coolest movie heroine ever, so it’s fitting that it’s Ripley herself and not an alien that eventually kills her. Well, sort of. In Alien 3, Ripley’s got an alien queen growing inside of her. Instead of letting the Wayland-Yutani Corporation quarantine and study the queen, Ripley falls back into a giant furnace like she’s taking the Nestea Plunge, killing herself and the alien.

5. Johann von Wolfhausen – Beerfest

At his funeral, Johann von Wolfhausen appears in a videotape with a message to those in attendance. He addresses his grandchildren, instructing them to spread his ashes at Thereienwiese. Johann then chugs a beer and pulls the plug to his life support, dying instantly. And somewherein the world, some sick f*ck gets off on stuff like that.

6. Detective John Hobbes – Fallen

In Fallen, Detective John Hobbes tracks down a spirit called Azazel that jumps from body to body and makes its host do horrible things. Seriously. This is a real movie for which Denzel Washington read the script and said, “Yeah, I’ll totally be in this sh*t. This is a sweet idea.” Anyway, Hobbes becomes possessed with Azazel, but not before he smokes a poison-laced cigarette. If he kills himself, Hobbes reasons, Azazel will have nowhere to jump and will die, too. Hobbes dies, but Azazel lucks out and jumps into a cat that was in the vicinity. I honestly think Fallen may have been ghost-written by Denzel’s six year-old kid.

7. Lt. Col. Matthew Markinson – A Few Good Men

OK, I know this picture of JT Walsh isn’t from A Few Good Men, but I just couldn’t find one of JT Walsh as Markinson. I tried hard, too, but once I started finding pics of scenes from the gay porn “A Few Good Men,” I figured I had searched enough. In the Rob Reiner version of this movie, Markinson was part of a cover up to hide the death of Santiago. Rather than face exposure for this conspiracy, Markinson puts on his full uniform before blowing his brains out with a pistol.

8. Private Jenette Vasquez & Lt. William Gorman – Aliens

“You always were an asshole, Gorman.” In an act of altruism, bad ass Vasquez and Lt. Gorman destory themselves – and a ton of aliens – with a grenade. This buys time for Ripley and co. to escape from the remaining aliens. I think Vasquez would just pulverize me in bed, by the way. There’d be a lot of crying and self-doubt after that session.

9. Russell Casse – Independence Day

While maybe not as preposterous as Fallen, ID4 is a pretty silly movie. It’s still very watchable, though, and one of my guilty pleasures. Russell Casse claims to have been abducted by aliens that stuck things up his butt, so it’s pretty understandable that he’s looking for vengeance when they arrive. Casse returns the favor, flying a jet right into the alien ship’s most powerful weapon – an obvious metaphor for anal probing. The collision causes a giant explosion, killing Casse but bringing down the giant alien aircraft with him.

10. John Hatigan – Sin City

After re-castrating Junior Roark (aka That Yellow Bastard), Detective John Hartigan beats him to death. To protect Nancy Callihan from the Roark family, who is sure to seek revenge, Hartigan shoots himself in the head. With Hartigan dead, the Roark family will have lost its most valuable lead in the seach for Nancy. “An old man dies, a young woman lives; fair trade.” Especially when that young woman is Jessica Alba.

About The Author

Madison

Madison is one of three original writers for Unreality, along with Paul Tassi and Nat B. He enjoys science fiction movies, books, and television, and is a huge fan of South Florida sports teams. He currently has a career as a medical malpractice defense attorney, but he pops in from time to time to leave a comment or write a guest post.

Aaron

damn you don’t what I thought would have topped the list. dead poets society

jonny

How is fight club not on here? It’s ok. it’s a good list. It’s tough to get all the good ones.

Madison

Fight Club is iffy. I think in the book it’s pretty clear the narrator kills himself, but in the movie, is it really a suicide? I say no.

Madison

I forgot Dead Poets Society; that’s a good call.

aaron

i love you so much madison…i am going to name my first daughter after you.

also, i liked the sincity reference. i also suggest some high brow stuff like anything by bill shakespere

http://richardmclaughlin.biz Richard McLaughlin

good list. Only I have not seen Sin City.

Robert

The ending of The Guardian?

Madison

I didn’t see the Guardian. Is that the one with Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher? Does Kutcher kill himself? Is it messy? I may have to see it, then.

Jeff

There are a couple good ones in Before the Fall (Napola).

Not a super big blockbuster or anything, not too many have seen it. Good movie. I recommend it.

Jon

The Military dude in American Beauty?

Ben

My two favorite ones aren’t on the list.

Leon’s epic suicide in The Professional, and Joe Dick’s in Hard Core Logo.

Troy

What are you, 13 years old and still having delusional wet dreams? Just because you see crap like that in the movies or hear about it from some third world country, Kick Ass Military Squads do not typically gang rape female prisoners, cute or not. Unlike you, most men do not think about sex (especially rape) every 3 seconds. Soldiers like the ones described by the characters in Predator are very professional, not sick bastards.

Grow up.

Madison

Ben – Leon’s in The Professional was an oversight on my part. Excellent call.

Troy – Was just joking, I thought that was clear. Dutch’s crew were a great bunch of dudes. I think about sex every 3 seconds, but rape maybe only once every 4 days or so. And even then, it’s thoughts about me being raped. So no offense meant to the good soldiers out there.

Saul

@ Madison

The Narrator never killed himself in Fight Club. That scene where he shoots himself in the face in the movie is pretty similar to how it ended in the book. Because the book doesn’t end with his death, i dont want to post any spoilers for those who havent read the book, but there is a scene after that where he is clearly alive.

Jean Reno

The Professional? Major oversight.

Madison

@ Saul

I think it’s kind of unclear in the book. I don’t want to post any spoilers, either, but where he ends up and what people are wearing – well, it could be one of two things. Definitely agree that he doesn’t kill himself in the movie, though.

@Jean Reno

I know. I am ashamed.

jack the disappointed

Fightclub’s narrator suicide should be num. 1. Though he didn’t die but it was done very well, cinematography-wise and served a purpose.

David

No “Dr. Strangelove”? Slim Pickens riding the A-Bomb, whooping and hollering all the way – beats anything on this list.

Have any of you read Fight Club? He does not kill himself. It’s very clear about that and what happens to him…are you serious?
And he doesn’t kill himself in the movie either, fucking christ, crack a book you lazy sons of bitches.

As for suicide scenes…Cache, anyone? It should tie for the top spot. Or, um, a little movie called The Deer Hunter? Hey, what about fucking SUICIDE CLUB

Also, Ian Curtis is shown doing himself in during both Control and 24 Hour Party People.

Try watching something that wasn’t made by a suit with a hard-on for explosions.

mike

how about when william h macy walks into the room with a smile on his face and blows his brains out in Boogie Nights?

http://nickpiazza.category4.com Nick P

Top Gun? That’s where I learned what suicide was way back in the dizzay. funny blag.

Rules of Attraction,never have been able to forget that scene.Truly awful.

ghgffg

not trying to offend, but you should put more thought into your top ten lists. the comments here already took several suggestions out of my mouth. i know it’s just a matter of differing opinions, but i think you left out some real big movie roles. don’t rush your next list.

Marko

I personally think the suicide of the captain at the end of The Guardian was memorable.

G

Um. Wanted? She curved the fuckin bullet around everyone before it hits her. Come on!

Not a bad list I suppose. Suicide is one thing, but if I had to choose the method of my death taken from movies, nothing….and I mean nothing…would top riding a nuclear bomb down to it’s target like Slim Pickens did in “Dr. Strangelove”.

Tom

Leon in The Professional was already dying..but it was still cool….there’s also T2…not too shabby and what about Thelma and Louise?

ramikay

Most memorable suicide to me is the one from The Rules of Attraction

Ikeloser

What about Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez in Highlander…going after the Kurgan at his again…that was Suicide with honour.

adnymarc

The Virgin Suicides….for those of you who have seen it, enough said.

Andrew

Come on! The suicide scene with William H. Macy in Boogie Nights! That was great!

anon

thelma and louise ?

ali

the suicide of the sonny (Heath Ledger ) in “Monster ball” was by far the most moving suicide scene i’ve ever seen, maybe only private pyle suicide can be compared to that

john

You forgot about the best suicide of the 21st century. Diary of the Dead. The deaf Amish guy.

david

@Andreas How is Dennis Hopper in True Romance a suicide? Granted one of the greatest scenes in cinema, but clearly homocide. Just because he takes the opportunity to insult Walken’s character does not make it suicide.

What about Brenden Gleeson in “In Bruges”? Granted he was on his way out, but damn what a great scene.

chris

Woojin in OLDBOY
Christopher Walken in Deer Hunter

catzDrCatz

Sorry but the coerced suicide in Hard Candy is by far more memorable than any of these. I mean, the whole movie lead up to that!

Sam

Frankie Pentangeli in the Godfather Part II.

Madison

@catzDrCatz

Hard Candy is a great movie; David Slade is definitely growing on me. Oversight on my part not to include that one — there’s a lot of movie suicides.

John

Rules of Attraction was definitely the most memorable, heart wrenching one for me. I thought of it as soon as I read the title of this list….and I can’t even hear that dang Air Supply song without getting an upset stomach.

Eric

Though it’s not on-screen, the suicide of Billy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest really got me when I was youg. Messy, bloody, and key to the ending of the movie, as well as cementing the evilness of the Nurse Ratchett character.

Walt

Yep Chris-
vote #2 for
Christopher Walken in Deer Hunter – great movie and a great freakin’ death scene-his best work >serious< was in that movie

mick

Once Were Warriors (the mother’s reaction upon finding her hanged daughter in the backyard tree shakes me up every time.)

And I’m truly shocked that Life of David Gale hasn’t been mentioned yet.

Reptar

What about Resident Evil: Extinction towards the end? Carlos Olivera (Oded Ferh) lighting a joint and then exploding a shitload of zombies… what a way to go.

hugorrifico

how can you not include DEER HUNTER!!!

Diddy mao, diddy mao!!!

jm

OK, you all missed the absolute #1 best movie suicide ever, although it was off screen: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Certainly a suicidal act, if not pure suicide.

I don’t fault you on the list, some very good calls here. Leon, The Professional, is a minor cult classic, but it is one of my all-time favorites. And #2 on my list of movie suicides.

andytea

Butch and Sundance? Ok – no bodies.
P.s. The Professional in the rest of the world was just “Leon”

Holy crap, what about the Wilson brother who suceeded, in the Royal Tenenbaums?

me

Deer Hunter.

crescentfresh

2 more: Brittany Murphy’s character in Girl…Interrupted, and there’s a crazy one in Dead Zone where a guy jams his open mouth onto a pair of open scissors!

Cortney

How are we all forgetting Ritchie Tenenbaum from The Royal Tenenbaums? I mean, obviously it’s unsuccessful, but it’s beautiful and features amazing camera work and music.

Madison

@Cortney

I’ll be sure to include that if I ever write an article on failed suicide attempts in modern cinema.

Josh

What about Mr. White (Harvey Kietel) in Reservoir Dogs? Or Doyle (Jeremy Kenner) in 28 Weeks Later? Anzor (Karel Roden) in Running Scared? Stan Obler (John Carroll Lynch) in Volcano? I think that these are all memorable.

Madison

@Josh

Mr. White’s and Anzor’s deaths weren’t suicides. You don’t think the gunmen who shot Anzor would be tried for murder? Oh, your honor, he walked away from us and we shot him. Total suicide.

And White was killed by the cops.

Josh

Yes, but, it was a suicidal act. Mr. White did what is commonly known as “Suicide by Cop.” Anzors death was a suicidal act by defiance. He refused to kill so instead he was killed. They may not have pulled the trigger, but they did what they did knowing they would die. To me that is suicide.

Madison

@Josh

It’s semantics, and I’m using the literal sense.

Either way, Running Scared was wayyyy better than I thought it’d be.

http://www.italkfilm.com italkfilm

Great list there are some other suicides in film that should have made the list but, a good list overall.

Lara

The “monk” from Waking Life. I hope someone knows who I mean.

Josh

Yeah “Running Scared” definitely surprised me. If Paul Walker did more films like that, I might actually like him. I do agree that I was arguing semantics, but that’s what I do. Though I do stand behind Mr. White, I think that if the cops weren’t there he would’ve offed himself. They just gave him an easier option.

MaryMc

I agree–Thelma and Louise belong on the list.

But the one I remember most vividly was a movie I saw when I was a kid (and far too young for it!): Jane Fonda, in “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” Okay, she didn’t do it herself in the end, but still…

CJ

Great list, but the end of Hero where Jet Li stands in front of the thousands of arrows at least deserves honorable mention.

Totally obvious and the only thing the hero of the movie could do but still….Taking out a huge asteroid and saving the Earth and your daughter’s fiancé in the process has to deserve some kudos.

Tho Robert Duvall gets none, simply cause he took a bunch of people with him and Bruce Willis does it all by himself.

-Cerberus

will

what about “I am Legend” ?

whatacrock

this is a crock. this is an utter crock of shit.
what a lame ass list. this are your best movie suicides? what are you? stupid?

http://www.medicaltoons.com john

Good list and interesting topic. I would add “The Big Chill” (Kevin Costner played the corpse) even though we don’t see it happen, just because the suicide was precipitant of rest of events in movie. Also, I would add Bruce Dern’s walk into ocean from “Coming Home.”

Bert

Uh – when Richie slits his wrists in The Royal Tenenbaums, he doesn’t die. In order to be an actual suicide it has to be SUCCESSFUL. Otherwise it’s just attempted suicide.

Really – they don’t give out Nobel Prizes for ATTEMPTED chrmistry, do they?

tishy

I’m just stunned that the Dead Zone isn’t on here. Death by scissors to the head is pretty impressive.

Madison

@ tishy

Good call. I’m squeamish just thinking about it.

Shawn

Scott Pritchard (Will Patton) In the movie “No Way Out” should have made the list.

Leona

yeah, better ones in the comments than in the list.

drink51

Surprised there is no mention of Ben Kingsley in The House of Sand and Fog……..I found it pretty disturbing…